Ashby Castle

Ashby Castle
Ashby-de-ka-Zouche takes its name from the Zouche family whose line died out in 1399.  In 1464, Ashby was one of the estates granted to William, Lord Hastings, as a reward for his services to Edward IV.  Hastings held the office of Lord Chamberlain and, in 1474, he obtained a license to crenellate his houses at Ashby and Kirby Muxloe.
During the Civil War, Henry Hastings strengthened the castle with earthen redoubts and turned it into the chief center of Royalist resistance in the county.  The garrison endured over a year of siege before surrendering on honorable terms in February, 1646.  The Hastings Tower was slighted by order of Parliament, but the rest of the castle remained habitable into the eighteenth century.  It is now all ruined.
Before Lord Hastings, there was only a manor house here, though it was a fine one in keeping with the status of the Zouches.  Hastings made the older buildings the core of his mansion.  They form a range centered upon a late Norman hall, flanked by the solar and a buttery and pantry wing.  In the fourteenth century, the massive kitchen was added to the complex. Lord Hastings modernized these buildings and extended the range with the addition of a fine chapel in the prevailing Perpendicular style.

Following the license to crenellate, he built a curtain around the manor house and raised the mighty square tower, which is named after him.  The curtain cannot have been a very formidable obstacle - only a portion survives-but the Hastings Tower is still impressive.  It is one of the best examples of a late medieval tower house, providing its owner with a dignified but secure residence.  It stands detached from the manorial buildings, facing them across the courtyard.  The tower is built in very fine ashlar masonry.
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Allington Castle

Allington Castle
Allington Castle stands beside the River Medway about a mile north of Maidstone.  This beautiful, moated castle seems perfect, but the perfection has been contrived in modern times. 
Henry II destroyed a Norman castle after the revolt of 1173-74.  The low mound immediately southwest of the present castle represents the motte and some herringbone masonry is visible in the curtain facing it.  Other than that, Sir Stephen de Penchester, Constable of Dover Castle and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports built the existing structure.  He obtained license to crenellate in 1291 and the original survives.
His castle is characteristic of the Edwardian age but is not uncompromisingly military like the contemporary castles of Wales.  In design, it reflects the quadrangular layout that was becoming popular, but the rear bows outwards in a gentle curve and the distribution of towers is quite irregular.
Five D-shaped towers of different sizes project from the curtain, though one or two others existed originally.  Solomon's Tower, at the south corner, is the largest and may be regarded as an early tower house. There is also a gatehouse flanked by simple, half-round turrets; the machicolations above the gateway are modern.
Some ruins of barbican survive on the far side of the moat.  The range on the southwest side of th courtyard, known as the Penchester Wing, may incorporate a slightly older manor house.  However, once the castle was built, the main apartments stood opposite, centered on a hall that still exists but is largely a reconstruction.  Only its fifteenth century porch is authentic.
In 1492, Allington was granted to Sir Henry Wyatt in recognition of his loyalty to Henry VII.  He upgraded the castle by building the narrow range which divides the courtyard into two unequal parts.  Its upper floor forms a long gallery.  The picturesque, half-timbered house within the smaller enclosure also dates from the Wyatt period.

Antique Coins as Cool Collections

Antique Coins as Cool Collections
Coin collecting is a fun activity and it has been very popular because it does not only serve as a hobby but as an option to generate income.
Probably the most popular types of coins that are sought by collectors are the antique coins. Antique coins may be bought from auction sales, coin shows, malls and even in tourist areas that have historical themes. Antique coins are found to vary greatly in price depending on the age of the coin, its history and country or origin.
Here are some tips that may be considered when buying antique coins:
1. The buyer should make sure that the antique coin they are buying is a genuine one. There are many counterfeit coins sold in the market today and a buyer should thoroughly inspect any coin before buying it.
2. Coin collectors should collect the less expensive antique coins when beginning.  The more expensive ones can be purchased once their collection becomes larger.
3. Collectors need to consider a purchase carefully before buying antique coins. Always be aware of the scams and fraud that may occur when buying coins. Take extra care in choosing – always determine the authenticity of the coin they are considering
4. A professional coin appraiser should assess the value of the coin before you buy so that the real value of the coin will be correctly assessed. This will prevent buying a coin at an inflated price.
5. When choosing antique coins narrow down the collection of antique coins to those from a specific country or a specific era. This will make the search for collectable coins an easier task.
6. Care is always needed to preserve the value of coins. Antique coins should be given extra care in order to preserve their appearance as well as their value. A collector should be aware that antique coins do not require much cleaning as excessive cleaning will only depreciate their value. The older the antique coin looks the more expensive it becomes.
Antique coins can provide so much entertainment for collectors that anyone might consider making it a hobby. Remember to be patient in searching for these coins since they may be available in limited numbers. You must have the passion for collecting to make antique coin collection a satisfying experience.
Flipsidelife
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Coin Collections: Beginner's Guide to Coin Collecting

Coin Collections: Beginner's Guide to Coin Collecting
Coin collecting is a hobby that is extremely popular
among a lot of people. Whatever the age of the person
is, collecting coins has its benefits. In most cases,
coin collections gravitate on two things. For
children, they tend to collect coins that look pretty
or unusual. However, for adults, their coin
collections will tend to gravitate towards the value
of it rather than the looks.
People have different ways to acquire their
collection. Some will just collect any coin that they
stumble upon, while there are people who buy in bulk
and eagerly anticipate limited mint edition of coins.
Whatever your methods are, there may be some questions
that you may want to ask about this particular hobby.
The first would be about handling the coin collection.
As a beginner, you must understand that you should
handle the coins as little as possible. The fact that
fingerprints on an uncirculated coin can dramatically
cut the value of the coin, you must never handle the
coin at all. However, if you do need to handle the
coin, do so from the edge and never on the face of the
coin.
If you need to lay the coin down, it is important to
use a velvet pad if it is available. But, if none is
available, a soft and clean cloth will do. If you are
going to handle coins that are extremely high in
value, you must do so with surgical gloves and
protective face mask.
Most people will also tend to ask how to keep their
coin collections clean.
Basically, you don’t really need to clean your coin
collection. In fact, you shouldn’t even think about
cleaning them at all. Most collectors look for the
authenticity of the coin rather than its shiny
newness. Even if you wipe the coin clean with clean,
soft, and lint-free rag, it will leave hair line
scratches on the coin which will greatly reduce its
value. So, cleaning a coin collection is never really
an option.
Storage is also another question that you may have
about coin collecting. Basically, the goal in storing
your coin collection is to protect it from temperature
extremes and humidity. Also, you may want to protect
your coin collection from dust, dirt, chemicals, and
even fingerprints. So dehumidifying equipments will be
needed as well as locking the storage as airtight as
possible.
In most cases, low value coins are kept in almost any
container and can be handled any way you like.
However, when you are dealing with high value coins,
you will need to give it extra attention. The goal
here is to provide a container that will preserve the
coin's condition. Make the container as airtight as
possible, and the container should also be able to
display the coin in order for you to never need to
take out the coin from the container.
Uncirculated coins are very much valued by collectors.
However, if you really want a valuable coin
collection, go for rare ones if you can afford to have
it. Learning about grading coins can also help you to
determine the true value of a particular coin.
So, if you want to start your very own coin
collections, you may want to keep these things in
mind. With these tips, you can be sure that you will
be able to know how to handle your collection and also
help in appraising its value. Always remember that
this hobby is not just fun, but is also a good
investment.
Flipsidelife
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Good Family Fun in Vegas

Good Family Fun in Vegas

If you are looking for some fun things to do in Las Vegas with or without the family, this should keep you busy for the better part of your travels. Keep in mind that Vegas is a city about lights and action most of the attractions will have on or other if not both of these elements. Enjoy the bright lights of this big city and have as much fun as you can possibly muster during your stay.

The High Roller at the Stratosphere Hotel is a roller coaster, which at 909 feet above ground is the world's highest (keep in mind that competition is fierce among coaster makers and that is subject to change). This roller coaster consists of more than 800 feet of track and offers some sharply banking turns at around 32 miles an hour for your coaster fun and enjoyment. The cost for one trip on this coaster is $5 and passes may be purchased for the day (height restrictions apply).

The Nevada Zoological and Botanical Park is another great way to spend the day. While this is by no means the world's largest zoo it is a nice place to take your kids and visit the wildlife (well some wildlife that isn't located on the strip at any rate) of Las Vegas. Some of the animals you might see include chimpanzees (usually a hit with the little ones), emus, ostriches, wallabies, and flamingos. You can also choose to take a full or half day eco tour of the desert. These tours give you the opportunity to learn to the view the desert a little bit differently and are a great educational experience disguised as fun for your children.

What would a stay at the Venetian Hotel and Casino be without a gondola ride? You do not however have to stay at the Venetian in order to experience this pleasure, nor do you have to venture a transatlantic flight. For an authentic gondola experience you only need to travel as far as the Venetian Hotel and Casino. You will float under bridges as your gondolier serenades you with the sounds of Venice. You can choose and outdoor gondola ride when the weather permits. The outdoor rides are only marginally less expensive and are still quite nice (they might even be preferable on a chilly desert night). Children 12 and under are very inexpensive passengers and if you are traveling with your partner you can opt for a romantic 2 passenger gondola for an added fee. Reservations must be made in person and can only be made the same day beginning at 9 a.m. for the indoor gondola ride and 10 a.m. for the outdoor ride.

If you're old enough to remember the commercials that asked if it was live or it was Memorex then you will understand that reference when it comes to Madame Tussauds Las Vegas. Where else can you play a round of golf with Tiger, sail the seas with Captain Jack Sparrow, marry George Clooney, become a playboy bunny, and sing along side The King? You will see some of Hollywood's brightest stars both living and living memories at Madame Tussauds have fun meeting your favorites. This is a must see stop on your trip to Vegas and will have the entire family rolling with laughter, be sure to bring the camera along for this one.

Vegas might have been a little slow to see the light, but this city is really working to make this a fun place to be for the entire family and it is slowly building a nice selection of activities that don't directly involve gambling or the casinos. The casinos, recognizing good business sense when they see it have been the pioneers of many of these family oriented activities in hopes of encouraging more guests to come back to the city. Be sure to check out all the wonderfully fun things there are to do with the family during your Vegas stay.

Flipsidelife

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Alternative Energy from the Ocean

Alternative Energy from the Ocean
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) was conceived of by the French engineer Jacques D'Arsonval in 1881. However, at the time of this writing the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii is home to the only operating experimental OTEC plant on the face of the earth. OTEC is a potential alternative energy source that needs to be funded and explored much more than it presently is. The great hurdle to get over with OTEC implementation on a wide and practically useful level is cost. It is difficult to get the costs down to a reasonable level because of the processes presently utilized to drive OTEC. Ocean thermal energy would be very clean burning and not add pollutants into the air. However, as it presently would need to be set up with our current technologies, OTEC plants would have the capacity for disrupting and perhaps damaging the local environment.
There are three kinds of OTEC.
“Closed Cycle OTEC” uses a low-boiling point liquid such as, for example, propane to act as an intermediate fluid. The OTEC plant pumps the warm sea water into the reaction chamber and boils the intermediate fluid. This results in the intermediate fluid's vapor pushing the turbine of the engine, which thus generates electricity.  The vapor is then cooled down by putting in cold sea water.
“Open Cycle OTEC” is not that different from closed cycling, except in the Open Cycle there is no intermediate fluid. The sea water itself is the driver of the turbine engine in this OTEC format. Warm sea water found on the surface of the ocean is turned into a low-pressure vapor under the constraint of a vacuum. The low-pressure vapor is released in a focused area and it has the power to drive the turbine. To cool down the vapor and create desalinated water for human consumption, the deeper ocean's cold waters are added to the vapor after it has generated sufficient electricity.
“Hybrid Cycle OTEC” is really just a theory for the time being. It seeks to describe the way that we could make maximum usage of the thermal energy of the ocean's waters. There are actually two sub-theories to the theory of Hybrid Cycling. The first involves using a closed cycling to generate electricity. This electricity is in turn used to create the vacuum environment needed for open cycling. The second component is the integration of two open cyclings such that twice the amount of desalinated, potable water is created that with just one open cycle.
In addition to being used for producing electricity, a closed cycle OTEC plant can be utilized for treating chemicals. OTEC plants, both open cycling and close cycling kinds, are also able to be utilized for pumping up cold deep sea water which can then be used for refrigeration and air conditioning. Furthermore, during the moderation period when the sea water is surrounding the plant, the enclosed are can be used for mariculture and aquaculture projects such as fish farming. There is clearly quite an array of products and services that we could derive from this alternative energy source.
Flipsidelife
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Driving the Customers to Clickbank

Driving the Customers to Clickbank
Clickbank is a great marketplace and it's worth the work and small expense to get your digital product out there because of the huge exposure it can get to a very large army of affiliates. But just putting your product into the market and letting it go at that to wait for the affiliates to do their job not only doesn’t seem to be enough, there is a lot more you can do to make the sales of your Clickbank entries take off.  So its just smart business to find the best internet marketing techniques that will pay the most rewards in terms of sales through Clickbank.
Learning to advertise your Clickbank affiliate is just as much a big priority as it was to learn to market your website or products you sell there via internet marketing methods.  And how to be a success marketing on the internet is something that is changing all the time as the internet changes and evolves.  It’s a living place and each year we have to stay on top of what works to bring the customers in.  And in our case we adapt that knowledge to specifically promote our Clickbank campaigns combines the power of Clickbank with your own marketing talents for that one two punch to wealth.
When you add Clickbank to your marketing plan, you have put a powerful resource in your corner.  But because you are now listing on what is hands down the largest internet marketplace in the world, its best to go back and evaluate your entire internet marketing plan in light of what you are doing on Clickbank.  That is because when you were driving customers to your web site to make a sale, it was pretty much a one customer at a time approach to sales which takes a long time to see real progress.  But since there are over 150,000 affiliates on Clickbank, the more you do to make your product successful and drive customers to Clickbank, the more you can see the return on that investment come by in multiples of hundreds or thousands.
It's not a bad idea to approach your internet marketing research from square one looking for advice and tools that are focused specifically on how to use your web site to create traffic to your Clickbank products.  If the person behind a web site that is promoting training or tools in marketing for Clickbank knows their stuff, they can take your sales to the next level.  As with anything else, networking with your friends who also are learning the ropes of internet marketing in a Clickbank environment is a great way to sort out the good tools and experts from those who are not going to benefit your business. 
In fact, if you are already involved in affiliate marketing directly with other internet merchants, you can pick their brains about Clickbank training and tools for moving product through that market place.  That same body of affiliates may be your first Clickbank representatives because they know the good of your product line and they will want to see your efforts to drive traffic their way work out well.
When you first learned internet marketing before you stepped into the Clickbank world, it took some work, some false starts and some real life experiences before you got good at it.  This is natural and sadly your early internet marketing programs are not as successful until you get an understanding for what really drives traffic and what doesn’t.  But you are not alone in your objectives or your desires to learn to become an expert internet marketer and make the top ranks of sellers on Clickbank.  And while those who have real world knowledge and advice to offer to help you get over your learning curve to become a Clickbank big money affiliate are probably selling that knowledge, maybe even through Clickbank, if that knowledge comes from real experience with the marketplace and grounded in both success and failure in Clickbank internet marketing efforts, you can learn a lot from the trial and error of others.
But be sure the source you are taking advantage of is credible in that way before you plop down your hard earned money to get your moneys worth in knowledge that will more than pay you back for the work you are doing to learn to market on Clickbank.
Flipsidelife
http://www.multicardkenoclub.com/

Clickbank is About More than Just the Stuff

Clickbank is About More than Just the Stuff
Most of us think of Clickbank as a service dedicated entirely to digital products. A digital product by definition is a something you sell.  It might be an e-book about anything from children's stories to an analysis of clinical depression to a guidebook to how to play a great game of golf.  It might be a software package that makes life easier or a really cool game you invented.  But by definition, it is "something".  Which means that in that context, Clickbank is all about the stuff.
One of ClickBank's rules of living for merchants lines up with the product only approach to the marketplace because you are expected to deliver the product within 24 hours of payment and preferably immediately by download.  The method of delivery might vary.  It can be by download, by email or by directing the customer to a membership site to download the product.  Clickbank doesn’t get into the details as long as the customer gets his product inside of the time window.
While the variety of predicts that can be sold through the Clickbank marketplace is unlimited, Clickbank does not have any provision for selling services using their terrific marketplace tools.  That 24 hour rule which is entirely reasonable for a digital product is really problematic if the nature of your internet business is a service you provide, even if the outcome is a product.   A service is delivered based on a lot of variables that the merchant cannot necessarily dictate.  Some services are continuous with periodic payments either based on milestones or on deliverables.  In either case, a specified delivery date is questionable and to limit that time frame to 24 hours virtually out of the question.
So many merchants have found ways to take advantage of the excellent marketplace infrastructure and the merchant account services of Clickbank to do business with clients that work within the 24 hour product delivery restriction.  A good example is ghostwriting.  A customer can contact a merchant using ClickBank's communication resources to make arrangements for the creation of a series of articles.  But the actual "product" would not be created within the Clickbank merchandising system until the product is complete and ready for delivery.  Then the customer and buy the product which is an outcome of the service and use Clickbank's systems to work with the ghostwriter.
Whether you organize your service to be moved through Clickbank in advance or after you complete the service, the key is for the price to be well understood before logging the project into Clickbank.  This is healthy for the business relationship between seller and buyer and keeps your nose clean with Clickbank as well.  It might take some work to convert your hourly billed service into a fixed price product.  But simply focus on the outcome.  So if you work by the hour to produce a requirements document for a project, you can set the fixed price when the project is near the end and you set up the payment vehicle as a Clickbank digital service.
Also keep in mind that Clickbank expects to see delivery.  Your service may have consisted of a series of 15 phone calls where you offer expert guidance and advance in your field of expertise.  So to create a deliverable, keep your notes per session and prepare a summary at the end that captures the results of your sessions as well as your conclusions and you can "sell" that to your client for the price of the total consulting charges for the 15 sessions. 
It really just takes some creativity and ability to not just think outside the box to work within the Clickbank box to offer your services as a digital product.  But as an internet entrepreneur, being innovative is second nature to you.
Flipsidelife
http://www.multicardkenoclub.com/

Vegas Basics

Vegas Basics

If you're planning a trip to Vegas in the near future there are a few basic things you should know. First things first, walking shoes are a must for any trip to Vegas. You will probably be spending a lot of time on your feet and will need shoes that can handle standing in lines and walking quite nicely.

Second, the weather in Vegas is fairly predictable. You are likely to experience rather cool nights, particularly during the months between October and April so bring some warm clothes. You should also be prepared for a lot of sunshine and pack copious amounts of sunscreen in order to protect your skin.

Remember that the times around holidays are often the busiest times in Vegas if you want to avoid the higher prices and larger crowds you should avoid booking during these times. And if those are the times you absolutely wish to stay and play in Vegas you should make plans and book well ahead of time to make sure you have your first choice in accommodations.

It is important to remember that Vegas is indeed a desert town and that you will need to drink plenty of water and moisturize more than you might be accustomed to. This is a much drier climate than many people experience in their day-to-day lives and the heat and dryness can sneak up on you for a double whammy if you aren't prepared.

If you're a golfer, you've found heaven and should come prepared. This means you should bring your best clubs along with you and be prepared to play a few rounds. You should probably also bring a nice set of dress clothes in order to catch some of the great shows that are always playing in Vegas.

While Vegas is famous for big spenders, it is quite possible to spend thriftily and have a nice vacation for two at around $100 per day. At the other end of the spectrum, big spenders can drop thousands on one meal very easily. Pay attention to the places you are considering before you enter if you are on a limited budget.

If you're planning to stray far from your hotel or resort, it's a good idea if you plan to rent a car or drive your own. The distances here can be quite conceiving and you can easily loose track of time while enjoying yourself inside the many casinos.

Vegas is almost as famous for weddings as it is for Casinos. If you are hoping to get married Vegas style you have a lot of styles from which to choose and you are not by any means alone. More than 122,000 couples apply for marriage licenses in Vegas each year. The licensing fees for marriage in Vegas is around $55 (this is the current rate, keep in mind that this rate is subject to change) and then there are the fees involved for the chapel you use, the services offered, etc. You can choose to go as informal and small or as bold and lavish as you can afford.

One of the most important things to remember about Vegas is like the new commercials claim, "What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas". So let your hair down and have some fun during your time here and be sure to make plans for your return trip.

This can be a wonderful vacation experience for you whether you are planning marriage, a golf smorgasbord, a gambling festival, to see your favorite act, or just to spend time with the family hanging out around the pool. Your trip to Vegas is what you make of your trip to Vegas. I suggest you have as much fun as possible. Enjoy the sights, watch the shows, enjoy the many great buffets, and spend some time at the hotel spa relaxing and rejuvenating as you prepare to go back home and face the outside world yet again.

Flipsidelife

www.multicardkenoclub.com

Online Arcade Games

Online Arcade Games
The most popular online game is Pac-man. Also, don’t forget about Pong, Bejeweled, and even Street Fighter. These games are almost timeless and they will stay alive through hi-definition graphics, which makes the game a bit more sophisticated.
Joust
Joust is a classic arcade game that puts you in the role of a knight with a lance while mounted on an ostrich. The game has a split screen with five platforms that hang in the mid air.
The enemies come in wave after wave from the one end of the screen. They appear at the screens in four different spawn points. Basically, for you to destroy you enemy, you will need to collide with the knight, but you have to be at the higher position in order to do so.
Donkey Kong
Then there came Donkey Kong, which was released by Nintendo. The game was the pioneer in the platform genre as the game play basically revolved around maneuvering.
The main character comes across a series of platforms while dodging various obstacles. When it comes to the hero of the game, you will find that it is basically a huge ape named Donkey Kong and it has become a very popular character.
Despite an initial slow down, the game went on to become a tremendous success. Consequently, the game was developed for personal consoles.
Crimson skies
A lot of people don’t realize that Crimson Skies is an arcade game that was developed by FASA. The game was released as a flight simulator with an arcade touch. Flight control scheme is fairly simple. Then the take off and the landing happen almost automated.
Some of the games of recently been placed on Xbox, but you will find that there is a whole fleet of options when it comes to fighters. There are a lot of great designs and graphics to go along with these games.
Flipsidelife
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The Ways that the Military is Using Alternative Energy

The Ways that the Military is Using Alternative Energy
The US military knows that its branches must revamp their thinking about how to engage in “the theater of war” in the new, post-Cold War world of the 21st century. One thing that the military leaders stress is the desire for the forces deployed in the theater to be able to be more energy-independent. Currently the US military has policies and procedures in place to interact with allies or sympathetic local populaces to help its forces in the field get their needed energy and clean water when engaged in a foreign military campaign. However, this is not wholly reliable, as the US might well find itself facing unilateral military activities, or have itself in a situation where its allies cannot help it with the resources it needs to conduct its military actions successfully.
The US military is very interested in certain alternative energies that, with the right research and development technologically, can make it energy independent, or at least a great deal more so, on the battlefield. One of the things that greatly interests the military along these lines is the development of small nuclear reactors, which could be portable, for producing theater-local electricity. The military is impressed with how clean-burning nuclear reactors are and how energy efficient they are. Making them portable for the typical warfare of today's highly mobile, small-scaled military operations is something they are researching. The most prominent thing that the US military thinks these small nuclear reactors would be useful for involves the removal of hydrogen (for fuel cell) from seawater. It also thinks that converting seawater to hydrogen fuel in this way would have less negative impact on the environment than its current practices of remaining supplied out in the field.
Seawater is, in fact, the military's highest interest when it comes to the matter of alternative energy supply. Seawater can be endlessly “mined” for hydrogen, which in turn powers advanced fuel cells. Using OTEC, seawater can also be endlessly converted into desalinated, potable water.  Potable water and hydrogen for power are two of the things that a near-future deployed military force will need most of all.
In the cores of nuclear reactors—which as stated above are devices highly interesting, in portable form, to the US military—we encounter temperatures greater than 1000 degrees Celsius. When this level of temperature is mixed with a thermo-chemical water-splitting procedure, we have on our hands the most efficient means of breaking down water into its component parts, which are molecular hydrogen and oxygen. The minerals and salts that are contained in seawater would have to be extracted via a desalination process in order to make the way clear for the water-splitting process. These could then be utilized, such as in vitamins or in salt shakers, or simply sent back to the ocean (recycling). Using the power of nuclear reactors to extract this hydrogen from the sea, in order to then input that into fuel cells to power advanced airplanes, tanks, ground vehicles, and the like, is clearly high on the R & D priority list of the military.

Flipsidelife
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What is Alternative Energy

What is Alternative Energy
There is a lot of energy that we can  harness if we only seek to research and develop the technologies needed to do so. We can get away from the fossil fuels and the old electrical grids by turning to alternatives to these energy sources.
One of these alternative energy resources is wind power. Wind turbines continue to be developed that are progressively more energy efficient and less costly. “Wind farms” have been springing up in many nations, and they have even become more strategically placed over time so that they are not jeopardizing birds as former wind turbines did.
Another alternative energy resource is the one that is most well known: solar energy. This involves the manufacturing of solar cells which gather and focus the energy given off directly by the sun, and translate it into electricity or, in some cases, hot water. As with wind energy, solar energy creates absolutely zero pollution.
Ocean wave energy is seen by governments and investors as having enormous energy generating potential. A generator in France has been in operation for many years now and is considered to be a great success, and the Irish and Scots are running experimental facilities.
Hydroelectric power has been with us for a while and where it is set up, it is a powerful generator of electricity and cleaner than a grid. However, there are certain limitations to the availability of the right places to set up a large dam. Many run-of-the-river, or small and localized, hydroelectric generators have been set up in recent times due to this limitation.
Geothermal energy is extremely abundant, since it lies directly beneath our feet, just a few miles below the earth's surface. This energy is produced by the heating of water through the actions of earth's fantastically hot molten core. The water turns to steam, which can be harnessed and used to drive turbine engines which in turn generate electricity. Great amounts of research and development should be put into geothermal energy tapping.
Waste gas energies, which are essentially methane, reverse the usual energy-pollution relationship by creating energy from waste that lies in the dumps and from some air pollutants. This gas is used in fuel cells and can be used in standard gasoline generators.
Ethanol is a gasoline substitute and is created from such things as wheat, sugarcane, grapes, strawberries, corn, and even wood chips and wood cellulose. There is controversy over this fuel with regards to its ever becoming truly economical or practical except in very localized areas, but technologies for its extraction and admixturing are continuously being refined.
Biodiesel energy is created out of the oils contained in plants. So far, the commercial stores of biodiesel have been created using soybean, rapeseed, and sunflower oils. At the time of this writing, biodiesel is typically produced by entrepreneurial minded individuals or those who want to experiment with alternative energy, but commercial interest from companies is on the rise. It burns much cleaner than oil-based diesel.
Atomic energy is created in atomic energy plants using the process of nuclear fission. This energy is extremely efficient and can generate huge amounts of power. There is concern from some people about what to do with the relatively small amount of waste product atomic energy gives off, since it is radioactive and takes hundreds of years to decay into harmlessness.
Flipsidelife
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Wind Power as a Viable Solution to Meeting Alternative Energy Needs

Wind Power as a Viable Solution to Meeting Alternative Energy Needs
Although it is much less expensive to initially get hooked into the local electric company's grid than it is to set up and hook into wind turbines, in the long run one saves money by utilizing the wind for one's energy needs—while also becoming more independent. Not receiving an electric bill while enjoying the advantages of the modern electrically-driven lifestyle is a wondrous feeling.
Electric bills and fuel bills are rising steadily—but the cost of wind turbine energy is zero, and the cost of installing and hooking up a turbine is steadily coming down as demand rises and more commercial success is realized by various companies producing the turbines and researching technologies to make them ever more efficient. In addition, people are moving away from the traditional electric grids and the fossil fuels for personal reasons including desire for greater independence, the desire to live remotely or rurally without having to “go primitive”, political concerns such as fears of terrorist strikes on oil fields or power grids, or concerns about the environment. Again, this motivation to get away from the traditional energy sources is the same one that causes people to seek the power of the wind for their energy, giving more business opportunities to profit from wind turbine production and maintenance, which drives their costs down for the consumers. In nearly thirty states at the time of this writing, homeowners who remain on the grid but who still choose to use wind energy (or other alternative forms) are eligible for rebates or tax breaks from the state governments that end up paying for as much as 50% of their total “green” energy systems' costs. In addition, there are 35 states at the time of this writing where these homeowners are allowed to sell their excess energy back to the power company under what are called “net metering laws”. The rates that they are being paid by the local power companies for this energy are standard retail rates—in other words, the homeowners are actually profiting from their own energy production.
Some federal lawmakers are pushing to get the federal government to mandate these tax breaks and other wind power incentives in all 50 states. Japan and Germany already have national incentive programs in place. However, “A lot of this is handled regionally by state law. There wouldn't really be a role for the federal government,” the Energy Department's Craig Stevens says. And as might be imagined, there are power companies who feel that it's unfair that they should have to pay retail rates to private individuals. “We should [only have to] pay you the wholesale rate for ... your electricity,” according to Bruce Bowen, Pacific Gas & Electric's director of regulatory policy. However, the companies seem to be more worried about losing short term profits than about the benefits, especially in the long run, of the increased use of wind turbines or wind farms. Head of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies of California V. John White points out, “It's quality power that strengthens the grid.”

Flipsidelife
http://www.multicardkenoclub.com/

Wine Country Tours: Your Travel Options

Wine Country Tours:  Your Travel Options
Are you interested in taking a wine country tour?  If you are, you will have a number of decisions to make.  Although some of these decisions may be difficult to make, they are important to ensure that your next wine country trip is just how you wanted it to be.
As previously stated, there are a number of decisions that you will have to make, when looking to plan a wine country trip.  One of those decisions is how you will get around.  When touring wineries in wine country, you will likely make a lot of stops along the way.  For example, should you choose to travel to California wine country, you will have hundreds of vineyards and wineries to choose from.
When looking to tour wine country, one of your options is to drive yourself.  When looking to do so, you will still have a number of options.  If you live nearby, you may be able to drive your own vehicle.  On the other hand, if you flew into wine country, like California’s wine country, you may have to make reservations for a car rental. 
For many, the thought of being able to drive themselves around wine country is nice, as you have the freedom to stop and visit whichever wineries you want.  Freedom is nice for many.  With that being said, there are a number of downsides to doing so as well.  One of those downsides is the risk.  If everyone in your traveling party plans to wine taste, you may unnecessarily be putting you and others at risk.  What you need to remember is that a few sips of wine can easily add up overtime.
Since there are some dangers associated with wine tours and driving, you may be interested in making reservations for a guided tour.  When you do so, you will still have a number of different options with how you can travel.  As wine tours continue to increase in popularity, so do the number of individuals and companies who offer guided wine tours.  With that said, many do so with different tools, such as vehicles.  Two popular modes of transportation with guided wine tours are that of bus and van.
Since most wine country tour guides will outline how they transport tourists on wine tours, you will want to examine your wants and your needs.  For example, are you interested in having room to move around or would you at least not like to be cramped into a small space?  If so, bus tours, even small bus tours, may be your best option.  If you are looking for a laidback environment, where you and the rest of your traveling party can carry on private conversations with tour guides and each other, a small tour with a van may be in your best interest.
As highlighted above, you have a number of different options, in terms of transportation, when looking to tour wine country. As a reminder, you will want to examine the pros and cons of each.  For example, driving your own car may increase your chances of driving while intoxicated and endangering others.  On the other hand, guided tours can enable you to drink wine freely, without having to worry about how you and the rest of your group will return back to your hotel, resort, or vacation rental.
Flipsidelife
http://www.multicardkenoclub.com/

Vegas Weddings for all Tastes

Vegas Weddings for all Tastes

Vegas is almost as famous for weddings as it is for some of its more questionable roots and activities. In fact there are wedding chapels on almost every corner and in almost every major casino on the strip and beyond. There are themed weddings, elegant weddings, simple weddings, alien weddings, and all kinds of weddings in between. Other than gambling, it seems that Vegas knows the most about weddings.

If you're planning a wedding, thinking about a wedding, or simply want to avoid a wedding and would like to run away and get married, might I suggest one of the many wedding chapels in Vegas? It takes all kinds of people to put together a fairy tale wedding however it can be done in Vegas in a matter of minutes. There are even wedding chapels in Vegas that will rent you costumes in which to get married. There are also those that rent the dresses and tuxedos for the more traditionally minded among you.

There are all kinds of wedding packages that can be ordered from the plain Jane and simple Sue wedding packages that offer no frills and no fun to those with more bells and whistles than you can shake a stick at. Where I come from there are plenty of sticks to be shaken. From professional photography to full service spa packages before the wedding for the bride and the bridal party there are all kinds of luxurious wedding touches available to those that are willing to pay for the service offered.

Vegas is probably the only city in the world that has professionals dedicated to throwing bachelor and bachelorette parties for brides and grooms to be. It really does beat all you've ever seen and more than most have ever dreamed of. While many people had dreams of fairy tale weddings and mom and dad paying for it, there are just as many who have had romantic dreams of getting married in Vegas since the very first time they heard it mentioned in movies or on TV. There are those that want Elvis impersonators singing as they share vows and others that want him to officiate the services. With so many tastes and wedding wishes, Las Vegas has come through with shining colors as far as making dream weddings possible for all those who enter.

It would seem that in Vegas, no wedding request (as long as it is legal) is out of the question. From the simply elegant to the outrageously campy there are chapels of love for all persuasions from pink fuzzy carpet and candles to outrageous dungeon looking rooms and all kinds in between weddings have been performed for many different walks of life and to confirm commitments for all manner of people and relationships from many countries around the world. Vegas is one of the easiest cities in the world in which to get married and all kinds of people take advantage of that fact for a quickie wedding. The one rule is that all parties must be of legal age and must be consenting. Consent is quite recognizable on your wedding day in most cases.

If you're planning a Vegas wedding, you are not alone and I wish you the absolute best of luck as you begin your new lives in this infinitely fascinating city of many dreams.

Flipsidelife

www.multicardkenoclub.com

Good Family Fun in Vegas

Good Family Fun in Vegas

If you are looking for some fun things to do in Las Vegas with or without the family, this should keep you busy for the better part of your travels. Keep in mind that Vegas is a city about lights and action most of the attractions will have on or other if not both of these elements. Enjoy the bright lights of this big city and have as much fun as you can possibly muster during your stay.

The High Roller at the Stratosphere Hotel is a roller coaster, which at 909 feet above ground is the world's highest (keep in mind that competition is fierce among coaster makers and that is subject to change). This roller coaster consists of more than 800 feet of track and offers some sharply banking turns at around 32 miles an hour for your coaster fun and enjoyment. The cost for one trip on this coaster is $5 and passes may be purchased for the day (height restrictions apply).

The Nevada Zoological and Botanical Park is another great way to spend the day. While this is by no means the world's largest zoo it is a nice place to take your kids and visit the wildlife (well some wildlife that isn't located on the strip at any rate) of Las Vegas. Some of the animals you might see include chimpanzees (usually a hit with the little ones), emus, ostriches, wallabies, and flamingos. You can also choose to take a full or half day eco tour of the desert. These tours give you the opportunity to learn to the view the desert a little bit differently and are a great educational experience disguised as fun for your children.

What would a stay at the Venetian Hotel and Casino be without a gondola ride? You do not however have to stay at the Venetian in order to experience this pleasure, nor do you have to venture a transatlantic flight. For an authentic gondola experience you only need to travel as far as the Venetian Hotel and Casino. You will float under bridges as your gondolier serenades you with the sounds of Venice. You can choose and outdoor gondola ride when the weather permits. The outdoor rides are only marginally less expensive and are still quite nice (they might even be preferable on a chilly desert night). Children 12 and under are very inexpensive passengers and if you are traveling with your partner you can opt for a romantic 2 passenger gondola for an added fee. Reservations must be made in person and can only be made the same day beginning at 9 a.m. for the indoor gondola ride and 10 a.m. for the outdoor ride.

If you're old enough to remember the commercials that asked if it was live or it was Memorex then you will understand that reference when it comes to Madame Tussauds Las Vegas. Where else can you play a round of golf with Tiger, sail the seas with Captain Jack Sparrow, marry George Clooney, become a playboy bunny, and sing along side The King? You will see some of Hollywood's brightest stars both living and living memories at Madame Tussauds have fun meeting your favorites. This is a must see stop on your trip to Vegas and will have the entire family rolling with laughter, be sure to bring the camera along for this one.

Vegas might have been a little slow to see the light, but this city is really working to make this a fun place to be for the entire family and it is slowly building a nice selection of activities that don't directly involve gambling or the casinos. The casinos, recognizing good business sense when they see it have been the pioneers of many of these family oriented activities in hopes of encouraging more guests to come back to the city. Be sure to check out all the wonderfully fun things there are to do with the family during your Vegas stay.

Flipsidelife

www.multicardkenoclub.com

Leaving Vegas Happy

Leaving Vegas Happy

Winning in Vegas isn't about going home rich; it's about not going home broke. You've probably heard many horror stories about people loosing it all their very first night in Vegas. The sad truth of the matter is that it happens quite often because it is so terribly easy to do. Casinos have many tricks (whether deliberately contrived or accidentally achieved) that help you make poor decisions as a result of slightly impaired judgment. The bells and whistles of casinos are fun for the first few hours, after that they tend to become dull and mind numbing. You'll even find that those who have been at the casino for a while will show slower and less enthusiastic responses to jackpots after a few hours. This is part of the process. We become number and mindlessly feed our 1's, 5's, 10's, 20's, 50's, and 100's into the machines and loosing count along the way.

Casinos are also kind enough to allow many people ups and downs along the way. They are quite smart in doing this. Many people find that they can get pretty far ahead early on and then are surprised to suddenly find themselves falling behind at an alarming rate. When they have you is at the moment you put yet another bill into the machine intending to get back the money you lost. Most of us manage to get back our original investment but decide that we want what we had won earlier and end right back at the bottom again starting the entire process over. Don't do that, I can tell you it hurts the next morning when you're kicking yourself for being stupid.

This of course brings me to my next point. Ever see a sunrise from the inside of a casino? Me either, but I've walked out into the blinding light of day before. It's very easy to loose track of time in a casino. It's dark in there and the only lights are quite often from the slot machines and blinking neon signs. There are no indicators for the passage of time and unless you are clock watching, which most of us are not when we're having fun, it is quite easy to lose many hours of time and find yourself suddenly very tired and making poor decisions and taking risks you'd normally not take rather than cashing out and going back to the room for the night. This is another one that generally hurts when you wake up.

In order to avoid things like this set a vibration alarm on your cell phone and have it buzz you when it's time to go. Only bring in a certain amount of cash into the casino and when that's gone it's gone. Don't go back to the room and get more money or make costly trips to the ATM. Those trips will suddenly add up and find you with no true idea of how much money you've spent or have left in your bank account.

You can quite easily win at the casino game on your trip to Vegas as long as you remember that you are playing at a casino and making a conscious decision not to be played by the casino. Common sense will help out some but avoiding traps is the difference in spending your 'mad money' at the casino and going home busted or spending your next few paychecks at the casino long after your vacation is over.

Flipsidelife

www.multicardkenoclub.com

The Natural Beauty Surrounding Vegas

The Natural Beauty Surrounding Vegas

The first thing most people think of when thinking of Las Vegas is the strip. Bright blinking neon lights, loud music, and spotlights are more of what people envision in Vegas than wide open spaces, natural park like settings, nature watches, and the beauty of the desert at sunset. Of course that is if you can get a little ways out of Vegas otherwise you'll never notice the sun going down for all the bright lights.

Granted most of these beautiful places to visit are fair distances from Vegas but if you are this close to them it would be a shame to miss out on their beauty for the sake of a car ride. The first one I'd like to mention is Bryce Canyon National Park. It is actually in Utah and about 270 miles from Vegas. The fee to enter is $20 per vehicle but the scenery is absolutely breathtaking. The views you will see are worth every mile and every penny. You should also be on the lookout for some of the wildlife particularly the Great Basin Rattlesnake, bald eagles, and golden eagles. There are beautiful flowers that often bloom in the spring and early summer months if you happen to be visiting at this time it's worth keeping an eye out.

The Grand Canyon is about 300 miles southeast of Vegas. This is another beauty that is well worth seeing if you have a day free or even really to make a priority of. There is a fee to bring your car into the park and you should check to see exactly what the current rate is before making the drive. For most people any fee is well worth experiencing this piece of American legend and lore. You can also opt to take one of many tours that will take you around the canyon and some that will take you to the bottom and back up again. If you are truly brave you should also consider one of the helicopter tours.

Floyd Lamb Park is open each day from 6 in the morning until 7 at night. This park is located about 20 miles from the strip in Vegas. It also has four fully stocked ponds, a barbecue area, and is home to some very interesting fossils and remains. The fossils and remains that have been identified here include the following: bison, mammoths, camels, giant sloths, and horse among other animals. This area became a state park in 1977 and visitors who have a fishing license for Nevada may fish in any of the park's ponds but there is a limit of three fish per person.

Lake Mead is another great area nearby in which to enjoy the great outdoors of the Nevada desert. Lake Mead is a man-made lake and the 16th largest of its kind in this hemisphere. This lake was created by the Colorado River and the Hoover Dam and is about 1.5 million acres (I don't know about you but that figure to me is actually staggering). This area is a very popular area for boating, swimming, and as wildlife observation area.

If you love the great outdoors there are plenty of places to get out there and enjoy nature in and around the Las Vegas area. You can do a lot more than view wildlife in any of these parks and each one offers something special to those that visit. I would hope that you could enjoy them all, however I would recommend that you spend at least one day of your trip outdoors in nature somewhere.

Flipsidelife

www.multicardkenoclub.com

The Romance of Vegas

The Romance of Vegas

A trip to Las Vegas is an experience of its own. No matter what time of year you visit there will be some manner of climate that will be new in some way, shape, form, or fashion to those who are visiting. There will be some star in the night sky that seems a little less bright when compared to the glam and glitz that defined Las Vegas and what has become known as "The Strip".

Your trip to Las Vegas will be no more or no less than you make it. The problem with gambling destinations such as this is that if you spend your entire allotment of funds in the first few hours you are in for a very long and quite boring and possibly hungry vacation. Self control is not what this particular city is famous for and yet it requires a great deal of self control in order to really win at the games that are most often played in this city.

From the bright and glittery nightlife full of dancing girls, flowing booze, and the eternal ringing of the slot machine, Las Vegas is a city that was quite literally built on broken dreams. If you do not realize this going in, the chances are rather great that you might learn the lesson the hard way. This is in no way whatsoever meant to discourage your from visiting or from taking the gamble in the casinos. That is after all the main attraction for a visit to this city. The warning is a friendly reminder that in all things moderation is not really all that terrible a thing. If you're going to risk at all, at least wait till you're getting ready to head out of town rather than doing it your first night in.

Las Vegas has a deeply interesting history to it, the kind of history that legends are made of. There have been Hollywood movies, a great deal of novels, hints, and innuendos and even more plain out speculation on some of the central characters that have come and gone during the process of building this glittering desert icon. Beneath the lights and the glitter lies a heart that built this oasis from the desert sand.

If you get the chance during your visit find out all you can about the history of this city. I think it will make the trip that much more meaningful to you and might romanticize your time in the city a little bit too. Plus, for your guys, the girls love a good story and if you can woo them with grand stories of Vegas lore, then perhaps you will find a little luck of your own during your visit.

Through the years Las Vegas has had both vocal critics and outright devotees, they've legalized prostitution, kept gaming alive and well where others had failed to do so and stood against and corrupted more local and national government officials than anyone might ever care to admit. If one had all the facts about this city and it's oh so interesting history I would certainly love to read this tell all book.

Even more than the past, the presence of Las Vegas is raising many eyebrows across America in disdain while others look on with rapt attention. From the gambling and the dancing girls, the bright lights, the games, the gold, the glam, and the glitz there are people that love it with the equal intensity of those that hate it. I guess some things about Vegas will never change.

I would choose to visit Las Vegas over many American cities because its history isn't painted as lily white. This is one city that lives in sins and relishes that fact about itself. While some may call it 'Sin City' I prefer to think of it as a city that is unburdened by the sins of its past. When you think about it, those that are simply passing through commit most of the sins of Vegas.

Flipsidelife

www.multicardkenoclub.com

Vegas Basics

Vegas Basics

If you're planning a trip to Vegas in the near future there are a few basic things you should know. First things first, walking shoes are a must for any trip to Vegas. You will probably be spending a lot of time on your feet and will need shoes that can handle standing in lines and walking quite nicely.

Second, the weather in Vegas is fairly predictable. You are likely to experience rather cool nights, particularly during the months between October and April so bring some warm clothes. You should also be prepared for a lot of sunshine and pack copious amounts of sunscreen in order to protect your skin.

Remember that the times around holidays are often the busiest times in Vegas if you want to avoid the higher prices and larger crowds you should avoid booking during these times. And if those are the times you absolutely wish to stay and play in Vegas you should make plans and book well ahead of time to make sure you have your first choice in accommodations.

It is important to remember that Vegas is indeed a desert town and that you will need to drink plenty of water and moisturize more than you might be accustomed to. This is a much drier climate than many people experience in their day-to-day lives and the heat and dryness can sneak up on you for a double whammy if you aren't prepared.

If you're a golfer, you've found heaven and should come prepared. This means you should bring your best clubs along with you and be prepared to play a few rounds. You should probably also bring a nice set of dress clothes in order to catch some of the great shows that are always playing in Vegas.

While Vegas is famous for big spenders, it is quite possible to spend thriftily and have a nice vacation for two at around $100 per day. At the other end of the spectrum, big spenders can drop thousands on one meal very easily. Pay attention to the places you are considering before you enter if you are on a limited budget.

If you're planning to stray far from your hotel or resort, it's a good idea if you plan to rent a car or drive your own. The distances here can be quite conceiving and you can easily loose track of time while enjoying yourself inside the many casinos.

Vegas is almost as famous for weddings as it is for Casinos. If you are hoping to get married Vegas style you have a lot of styles from which to choose and you are not by any means alone. More than 122,000 couples apply for marriage licenses in Vegas each year. The licensing fees for marriage in Vegas is around $55 (this is the current rate, keep in mind that this rate is subject to change) and then there are the fees involved for the chapel you use, the services offered, etc. You can choose to go as informal and small or as bold and lavish as you can afford.

One of the most important things to remember about Vegas is like the new commercials claim, "What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas". So let your hair down and have some fun during your time here and be sure to make plans for your return trip.

This can be a wonderful vacation experience for you whether you are planning marriage, a golf smorgasbord, a gambling festival, to see your favorite act, or just to spend time with the family hanging out around the pool. Your trip to Vegas is what you make of your trip to Vegas. I suggest you have as much fun as possible. Enjoy the sights, watch the shows, enjoy the many great buffets, and spend some time at the hotel spa relaxing and rejuvenating as you prepare to go back home and face the outside world yet again.

Flipsidelife

www.multicardkenoclub.com

How to Make the Most Out of Your Trip to California Wine Country

How to Make the Most Out of Your Trip to California Wine Country
Are you interested in visiting California wine country?  If you are, you may be unsure as to how you should proceed, in terms of what you should see and do.  With over four hundred wineries and vineyards in the area, as well as an unlimited number of fun activities, perfect for just about every trip, you may be wondering how you can make the most out of your time.  For tips on how you can do so, please continue reading on.
The best way to make the most and get the most out of your next trip to California wine country is to plan ahead. You will want to know what each and every one of your options are.  This should include everything from guided wine tours to overnight accommodations.  Proper planning and preparation are key to having the vacation or trip of your dreams.
In terms of overnight accommodations, you will find a large number of options.  Popular options in wine country for tourists include hotels, vacation resorts, vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, as well as inns.  For starters, you will want to ensure that you make your reservations well in advance, to help ensure that your first choices, like a vacation home rental, aren’t all filled up with reservations.  Secondly, it is important to stay at a place that is conveniently located.  This can help you get most out of your wine country trip by eliminating unnecessary travel.
A big staple of visiting wine country is taking a wine country tour.  When looking to do so, you will find that you have a number of options.  If you are looking to take your own independent tour, be sure to arrange for a designated driver.  You will want to stay safe.  If you everyone in your traveling party wants to drink, a guided wine tour may be in your best interest.  Yes, a guided wine tour will cost extra money, but you are usually provided with travel, either by small bus or van.  This makes is so that you don’t have to worry about ruining your fun or the fun of someone else in your group by requiring that just one person doesn’t get the opportunity to wine taste.
As previously stated, wine tours are a good idea for those who all want to be able to wine taste and without worry.  Before choosing a guided wine tour company, be sure to examine all of your options first.  Many will outline on their online websites which wineries and vineyards their tours stops at, for how long, and the costs of doing so.  The best way to make the most out of your next wine country trip is to get the most value for your money.
If you would like to tour local wineries independently and have arrangements for a designated driver, be sure to examine all of your options, in terms of wineries and vineyards in the area.  Since you have hundreds to choose from, you will want to prioritize.  Which are must sees for you?  Most vineyards have open doors, tours of their grounds, and wine tasting available on a daily basis; however, you may also want to examine other planned events.  For example, if a winery is having an educational class on the making of wine during your trip dates, it may be worth making plans to attend.
In keeping with independent wine tours, you will want to create a map for yourself.  Once you have an idea of which wineries and vineyards you would like to visit, mark them on a map.  Then, what you will want to do is decide on a method of travel.  Try to visit all of the wineries you checked off on your map in an order that allows you to maximize your time.  The best way to do this is to create a set path to follow, namely one that does not result in you backtracking.
Flipsidelife
http://www.multicardkenoclub.com/

The Process Of Manufacturing Wine

The Process Of Manufacturing Wine
Wine, which is a drink we all know and love, is produced from fruits such as grapes and berries by drying and then fermenting them.  Once the fruits ferment, the sugar within the fruit will turn into alcohol.  The wine will display a different color, taste, and aroma depending on the type of fruit that it was made from. 
Wine is divided into three main categories - fortified, sparkling, and table.  Wine is known as fortified when a bit of brandy is added into it to enrich the alcohol.  Wine is deemed as sparkling when it has the right level of C02.  Table wine, the third category, is wine in it’s natural form - which is different from any other type of wine.
Normally, grapes are the preferred ingredients for making wine.  They contain an equal amount of acid and sugar, which can’t be found in any other type of fruit.  When drying the grapes, a high amount of heat is needed.  To use grapes with wine though, you need to know the exact harvest season.  If you don’t pick the grapes during the right time, your wine will suffer due to the level of increases in sugar and a lack of acidic extent.
During the beginning stages of wine making, the grapes or other fruit is crushed by a large cylindrical container that will deflate the juicy parts of the fruit into large bags that are attached to the machine.  Next, the juicy part of the fruit is fermented through the use of heat.  During this part of the process, present yeast will help to convert the sugar into alcohol.  Once the sugars start to break down into alcohol, the wine will get a buttery flavor.
Next, is the settling.  Settling involves the yeast cells or any other type of material flowing near the top of the wine.  Once it is at the top, it is then filtered with all sediments being gathered on the filter.  Aging is next, which is where the wine is tightly packed away in special contains that won’t allow any contact with air for months - sometimes even years.  Once the wine has been aged, it is transferred into smaller bottlers then shipped out and sold.
When the wine is bottled, it is done in a way that makes it easy to distinguish the several types of wine.  Colored bottles are preferred, as they will greatly reduce the risk of oxidation, damage, and several other possible risks.  The bottles are also labeled according to their manufacturer and brand as well, which makes it easy for you to select the wine you are interested in.
Once you have bought a bottle fo wine, you should always make sure you store it in the right place.  The most appropriate places to store wine is the basement, underground cellars, or anywhere else that is damp and cool.  No matter where you store your wine at, you should always make sure that temperature stays around 55 degrees F. 
Never store the wine in an area where the temperature fluctuates, as it can harm the wine.  A humidity level of around 60% is also important, in order to keep the cork moist.  If the temperature is too low, it can also harm the wine.  When you buy your wine, you should always make sure that you store it in the right location.  Wine that is properly stored and taken care of can be truly amazing once you drink it - making it more than worth the time and effort.
Flipsidelife
http://www.multicardkenoclub.com/

The Flavors Of Wine

The Flavors Of Wine
Although the four main flavors - sweet, salty, sour, and bitter are all your tongue is really capable of tasting, the long lasting impression that wine leaves in your mouth is far more complex.  When you drink or taste wine, your taste buds and your sense of smell are involved, adding to the way you interpret wine overall.  The flavors, aromas, and sensations that wine is comprised of provide the interaction that you taste when you sample wine.
Sweetness is something that wines are well known for.  With most types of wine, grapes are responsible for the sweet taste.  Grapes contain a lot of sugar, which breaks the yeast down into alcohol.  The grapes and yeast that were used to produce the wine will leave behind various sugars, which your tongue will be able to quickly detect.  Once your tongue detects these various sugars, the stimulation of sweetness from the wine will be ever so present in your mouth.
Alcohol is also present in wine, although your tongue doesn’t really know how to decipher the taste of alcohol.  Even though the tongue doesn’t really taste alcohol, the alcohol is present in the mouth.  The alcohol found in wine will dilate blood vessels and therefore intensify all of the other flavors found in the wine.  After you have samples a few types of wine, the alcohol level can easily have an effect on your taste buds, making it hard to distinguish other drinks that you may have.
Another flavor is acidity, which will effect the sugars.  With the proper balance of acidity, the overall flavor of wine can be very overwhelming.  Once you taste wine that contains it, the flavor of the acidity will be well known to your tongue.  Although acidity is great with wine, too much of it will leave a very sharp taste.  With the right levels, acidity will bring the flavors of the grape and fruits alive in your mouth - providing you with the perfect taste.
Yet another effect of flavor are tannins, which are the proteins found in the skins of grapes and other fruits.  If a wine has the right amount of tannins, it will give your tongue a great feel, and bring in the sensations of the other flavors.  Once a wine starts to age, the tannins will begin to breakdown in the bottle, giving you a softer feel to the taste.  Tannins are essential for the taste of wine - providing the wine has been properly aged.
The last flavor associated with wine is oak.  Although oak isn’t put into the wine during the manufacturing process, it is actually transferred during the aging process, as most wines will spend quite a bit of time in oak barrels.  Depending on how long the wine is left in the oak barrel or cask, the ability to extract the flavor will vary.  Most often times, wine will be aged just enough to where the oak taste is visibly there - and adds the perfect sentiment to the taste.
Although there are other flavors involved with the taste of wine, they aren’t as present as those listed above.  The above flavors are the most present in wine, and also the flavors that you need to get more familiar with.  Before you try to taste wine or distinguish flavors, you should always learn as much you can about the components responsible for the flavors.  This way - you will know more about what you are tasting and you’ll truly be able to appreciate wine.

Flipsidelife
http://www.multicardkenoclub.com/

The Art Of Wine Tasting

The Art Of Wine Tasting
Even though many just assume that wine tasting is sipping, swishing, and swallowing - many are amazed to find that it’s actually a bit more.  Wine tasting is more of an art, an art that is used to distinguish the taste of fine wines.  Wine can be a tasty and refreshing drink - if the bottle was stored correctly and aged properly.
Wine tasting begins with the swishing.  The reason why wine tasters swish the wine around in their mouths is to get the taste.  Both the front and the back areas of the tongue contain taste buds, although neither one has any distinct sensation in taste.  Taste buds can detect food and liquid that is bitter, salty or sweet, without a problem.  To get the proper taste from wine however, you need to swish it around in your mouth and allow your taste buds and sense of smell to bring out the unique and fine flavors in the wine.
When you have a cold however, the wine can taste very different.  When tasting your wine, your sense of smell has a major impact on the taste.  What many fail to realize, is that over 75% of our taste is due to our sense of smell.  When we have a cold, our sense of smell is affected.  Therefore, when eating or tasting wine with a cold, the taste will appear different.  Wine tasters all over the world will tell you that tasting wine is more about a sense of smell than the actual taste buds.
The art of wine tasting is indeed an art.  Wine tasters do however, follow some general guidelines and rules that judge how great a wine is.  These techniques can help you bring the most out of your wine, providing you follow them and know how to bring out the taste.
The first thing to do with wine is to look.  With wine, you can tell quite a bit about it by looking at it.  You should always start by pouring the wine into a clear glass, then taking a few minutes to look at the color.  As far as the color goes, white whines aren’t white, but actually yellow, green, or brown.  Red wines on the other hand are normally a pale red or dark brown color.  Red wine gets better with age, while white whines get more stale with age.
Next, is the smell of the wine, which you should do in two steps.  You should start with a brief smell to get a general idea of the wine, then take a deep, long smell.  This deeper smell should allow you take the flavor of the wine in.  The more experienced wine tasters prefer to sit back a bit and think about the smell before they actually taste the wine. 
Last but not least, is to taste the wine.  To properly taste the wine, you should first take a sip, swish it around in your mouth, and then swallow.  Once you swish the wine around in your mouth, you’ll bring out the rich and bold flavors of the wine.  After swallowing, you’ll be able to distinguish the after taste of the wine, and the overall flavor.
Once you have looked at the wine, smelled it, and finally tasted it, you’ll be able to evaluate the wine from a taster’s standpoint.  This is the easiest way to determine the quality of the wine, and whether or not it has been properly stored and aged.  As with all things in life - the more you taste wine - the better you will get at distinguishing the unique flavors.

Flipsidelife
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Storing And Caring For Wine

Storing And Caring For Wine
Over the years, wine consumption has become more and more popular.  With more and more money going into wine both as an investment and for later consumption, the history of the wine will always be in question.  With this in mind, many people often wonder how they can properly store their wine and take care of it at the same time.
How you store your wine is extremely important.  If you store it right it can lead to euphoria, while if you store it wrong it can lead to depression.  When you tear into a bottle of wine that has properly been stored, it can be glorious indeed, while tearing into bottle of poorly stored wine can be quite the letdown.  Often times, drinking a bottle of wine that was poorly stored is much like drinking vinegar.
To properly store wine, you’ll need to meet several factors, such as humidity, temperature, lighting, the cleanliness of your storage area, the angle of the bottle while it is stored, and the vibration of the bottle on the rack.  The temperature is the most important, as you should keep it around 50 degrees at all times.  This way, the lower temperature can help to age the wine.  If there are any fluctuations in the temperature, you should make sure that it happens slowly.  As long as the temperature doesn’t go to high and it fluctuates slowly, your wine should be ok.
The proper level of humidity for storing wine should be around 70%, although it is perfectly accepted to keep it 10% above or below the 70% level.  If you have too high of a humidity temperature, the labels can easily rot or mold, which can affect the wine’s value.  On the other hand, if the humidity gets too low, around 50%, the cork could shrink and bring air into the wine, which would ruin it in little to no time at all.
The angle that wine is stored is important as well.  If the wine stays in contact with the cork during storage, the cork won’t dry out.  If the wine doesn’t stay in contact with the cork, the cork could dry out and allow air into the wine.  You should also strive to keep the wine out of the light, as light can ruin any type of wine.  Light causes the wine to age prematurely, making it in your best interest to store wine in a dark location.
To prevent damage to the wine from sediment, you should also store wine in a location that is free of vibration.  If you store wine in places that are free from vibration, it will give the sediment in the bottle ample time to settle.  Vibrations are never a good thing for wine, as the sediment becomes unsettled and can ruin the wine or shake it to the point where it tastes horrible.
To protect the quality and investment of your wine, storage and care is very important.  Storing it in a proper location will also bring the best taste.  In the world of wine, nothing is more disappointing than waiting several years to open a bottle of fine wine, only to find that it is nothing but vinegar.  You can prevent this from happening though, by taking care of your wine.  Wine isn’t hard to care for or store, it just takes the right conditions and location.  Everyone loves some fine wine every now and then - which is why storage and care is so very important these days.
Flipsidelife
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Making Red Wine

Making Red Wine
Among the many types of wine available, red wine is among the best. There are many types of red wine available, although most are made using the same methods.  This very exhilarating type of wine is made from black grapes, drawing their color from the skins of the grapes. 
During the beginning stages of making red wine, the grapes that have been picked are put into a crusher.  Here, the crusher will gently break the skins of the grapes.  Depending on what type of wine is being made and the tannin that’s required, the stalks will either be used or discarded at this point.  Next, the grapes are put into a fermentation vat with the skins.  This can be a long process, taking several weeks to complete.  If a higher temperature is used, more tannin and color will be extracted from the grapes.
When making soft wines, the whole grapes are fermented using sealed vats.  The carbon dioxide that becomes trapped in the sealed vats ferment the grapes under pressure, which is normally a quick process, taking only a few days.  Keep in mind, the color and tannin content of the wine is based on how long the fermenting process takes.  If the fermenting process takes a long time, the wine will generally hold more flavor and color.
The remaining bulk of the grapes will go through a press, being crushed to create a tannic wine.  Sometimes, this tannic wine is added with a free run wine in order to add a bit more structure to the wine blend.  Both the press and vat wine are then mixed and transferred to either tanks or barrels for a second fermentation.  The second fermentation will take the longest, although it brings out the quality and taste from the wine.
All types of fine red wine will spend a minimum of a year in the barrels.  Some types of red wine will spend a lot more time in the barrels, possibly several years.  Red wine is also fine tuned with egg whites, which will suspend the yeast and other solids found in the wine downwards, before the wine is racked, filtered, and eventually bottled.  Once the wine has been bottled, it is then shipped off and sold.  Some wine however, will be stored for a period of time in the bottle before it is offered for sale.
The time a wine spends in the bottle is very important, although not every wine needs to spend a lot of time in the bottle.  The more complex and more expensive types of red wine will benefit the most from aging in the bottle, to preserve flavor and color.  The simple types of red wine however, don’t need to spend much time at all in the bottle. 
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Information About Wine Cellar Racks

Information About Wine Cellar Racks
A wine cellar rack allows any wine enthusiast to achieve a professional wine cellar in the comfort of their own home.  Normally, wine cellar racks are wall mounted, although they can be stacked as well.  They range in size, and can hold anywhere from 10 - 300 bottles of wine.  Depending on your needs and how many bottles you have to store, you’ll want to choose accordingly.
One of the best things about wine cellar racks is the fact that are customizable.  You can fit them to your liking, or what looks best in your cellar.  Wine cellar racks will allow you to convert practically any space of your home or your cellar into a storage area for your wine in little to no time at all.  All you have to do is set the racks up - then store your wine.
All wine bottles, no know matter what brand, needs to have the proper storage in order to maintain their original flavor.  Those who know wine, know that the easiest and best way to store wine in bottles is put the bottles on their sides.  When using a wine cellar rack, you’ll have the choice of individually storing the bottles, or grouping them together.  Cellar racks are the ideal way to store wine bottles, especially if you have a large amount.
Wine cellar racks and the way they store wine are essential for many reasons.  With the wine being stored on it’s side, the sediments that will eventually settle over time are evenly distributed throughout the wine, which helps keep more of the original flavor.  Along with helping to preserve the original flavor of the wine, the corks and labels are also preserved.
Unlike other forms of wine storage, wine cellar racks will work in any home, and they are very affordable as well.  They come with detailed instructions, they are easy to assemble, and include everything you need to begin using your new rack immediately.  You can also find a variety of sizes, colors, styles, and materials.  Contrary to what you may think, wine cellar racks don’t take up a lot of space in your home.  If you use them on their sides, they will take up even less space than if you were to stand them upright.
These days, wine cellar racks aren’t just for commercial use.  Even though they are geared more towards large consumers, individual wine enthusiasts have a lot to gain with a wine cellar rack.  You can find these racks at your local department store, or online.  They don’t cost a lot of money either, yet they will give you the storage you need.  No matter how much space you have to spare in your home - wine cellar racks will give you everything you need to store and preserve your wine.
Flipsidelife
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Information About French Wine

Information About French Wine
Whenever wine comes up in a conversation or a thought, we often find ourselves thinking of where the wine came from.  If you study the name of the wine, such as Burgundy or Champagne, you’ll find a log about the origin of the wine.  Burgundy for instance, we all known comes from France, same as Burgundy.  There are many wines out there - several of which come from France.
In the times of the old, wine in France was made by peasants, who drank it themselves.  Wine is very old in France, which is really no surprise as French wine is some of the best in the world.  New world wines have the ingredients that were used in the label, while French old world wine is labeled with the location.  In doing so, the French have left a bit of a romantic message when you purchase any of their wine.
A lot of wine enthusiasts all over the world consider French wine to be the best.  Wine lovers from all over the world prefer French wine over any other.  There are several different kinds of French wine available, giving you plenty to choose from.  This way, you can experience and compare wine based on aroma, taste, and even the texture.
There are thirteen different regions in France with literally thousands of vineyards that produce wine, making the possibilities for French wine endless.  French is also known for having the ideal location for growing grapes, including the perfect soil conditions and vineyards that are very close to the water.  The climate in France is always good, making it one of the best locations in the world for wine.
French wine varies from the most common types that you can find virtually everywhere that sells wine, to the rare variants, which can be very difficult to come across.  If you are looking for one of the more rare types of French wine, your best bet would be to use the Internet.  You can find hundreds of thousands of different types of wine, including rare French wine.  Rare vintage French wine can be extremely hard to find, even sometimes so online.  You can always look at wine forums as well, including the many different wine websites.
All in all, French wine is a cut above the rest.  Although other wines may use the same ingredients and methods in production, they don’t taste the same as those made in France.  When you taste a wine that was made in France - you’ll know it.  Even though other wines may be preferred by some, French wine has a taste and aroma like no other.  Wine that comes from France is all about quality - and a taste you’ll never forget.
Flipsidelife
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Hungary For Wine

Hungary For Wine
Despite what many may think, the area known as Hungary holds more wine tradition than any other country in Europe.  Most of this very tradition is just now surfacing in the light, with people finally starting to catch wind about everything Hungarian wine has to offer. Even though many wine drinkers aren’t familiar with Hungary - there are many who are.
Hungary is home to over 20 wine regions, fully of forests, vineyards, and orchards.  With several different varieties of grapes to offer, the vineyards found in Hungary have flourished since the great Roman Times.  The weather in Hungary is seasonal to say the least, with cold winters and extremely hot summers.  This weather allows the soil in the country to be diverse, which allows wine makers to create a variety of quality wines.
Despite the communist control in the past, there are several different wines found in Hungary.  Although the vineyards here produce a lot of excellent wines, Tokay Aszu is by far the favorite here and the wine that locals always love raising their glass to.  Tokay Aszu is a popular wine with meals or dessert, in Hungary and also happens to be one of the most popular dessert wines in the entire world.
Tokay Aszu was discovered in the mid 17th century in Hungary, quickly becoming a favorite for many European aristocrats.  Even though it was great to the taste, many believed that certain types of the wine had mystical healing powers.  Although this was strictly a rumor, it actually helped the wine become more popular than ever.  Over the years, Tokay Aszu was one indeed the most popular wine in Hungary, spreading to other areas of the world as well.
Egri Bikaver, also referred to as Bulls Blood is another popular wine found in Hungary.  This is another popular wine for locals, and can be found throughout the world as well.  Getting it’s name from it’s color, Bulls Blood is truly a feast for anyone who likes wine.  The wine is dark red in color, yet sweet to the taste.  The wine was first developed back in the 16th century, and remains popular even to this day.
If you ever visit Hungary, there are many places you can visit to get some great wine.  You should also make a point to visit Tokay, located in the northeast.  You can take a train from Budapest and arrive here in a few hours.  There are several different wine flavors and varieties here, sure to please just about anyone.  The wineries found throughout the Tokay area are normally open for tours and tasters from May to the end of October.  If you visit during these months, you can tour the underground cellars, sample the superb wine, and learn more than you ever thought possible about the manufacturing of Hungarian wines.
All in the all, the wine found in Hungary is great to have in your collection or just have around the house for special occasions.  You can get it by the bottle, the glass, or by the case.  All types of Hungarian wine has been perfected over the years, making it something that you really can’t go wrong with.  If you like to drink wine, as most of us do, you really can’t go wrong with any type of Hungarian wine.  Hungarian wine gives wine lovers plenty to study, plenty to order, and plenty to drink.  The wine is very tasty and refreshing - and it helps to keep the nation of Hungary thirsty for more.

Flipsidelife
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Great Wine Gifts

Great Wine Gifts
For virtually any occasion, such as special moments and holidays, wine makes a great gift.  From informal meetings to wedding celebrations and bashes, wine is a gift that is truly hard to beat. There are several different gifts you can get that relate to wine.  No matter who it may be that you are giving the gift to - wine is something that is truly appreciated - a gift from the heart.
Among the several gifts of wine that you can give, is personalized wine.  There are several companies that offer personalized wine and champagne gifts, complete with custom made designs and labels.  For corporate events and parties, a personalized wine gift is an ideal way to showcase your gratitude and give a gift that truly shows how much you care.
If you prefer, there are also ways that you can create your own personalized gift.  First of all, you’ll need to select a wine label from one of the numerous custom wines available.  Next, you will need to personalize your text by adding your own messages and ideas.  Last, you’ll need to select a container or wrapper that is best appropriate for your gift of wine.  You should be as creative as possible, as it will help to make your wine gift to have a bit more impact.
Another great wine related gift that you can give are corkscrews.  Corkscrews make for a truly great gift, allowing you to open wine bottles with the corks intact.  Wine lovers who want to open a bottle of wine every now and then, and keep the cork in great shape will truly appreciate the gift of a corkscrew.  Corkscrews are also used in restaurants as well, as they can easily remove even the toughest of corks. 
Another great gift that relates to wine is the pocket vineyard, which is an electronic device that contains a wine glossary, vintage wine charts, and even suggestions and ideas for pairing wine with food.  The pocket vineyard is a great gift for anyone who likes wine, as it allows them to learn more about wine in general and make better choices overall when it comes to wine.
You can find many other wine gifts to give as well.  If you look on the Internet, you can find all different types of wine gifts that you can give to virtually anyone.  You can also find great gifts in local stores as well, many of which are available at great prices.  If you aren’t sure about what to get someone, you can always ask.  Although there are many different gifts that you can give for a variety of occasions, few gifts have the impact of wine.  If you choose - you can always give the gift of wine - a bottle that is sure to please anyone.
Flipsidelife
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